The Morning Briefing - March 11, 2015
TRENTON - Gov. Chris Christie thinks the controversial $225 million settlement with ExxonMobil is a "really good" deal for the state, while others suggest the state could have done a wee bit better - as it was an $8.9 billion case. First - no surprise - the governor says he wasn't involved. And second - no surprise - he blames the media, noting those crazy wild liberals over at The New York Times filed reports that were "as usual, not completely accurate." Christie explains that Exxon Mobil has to clean up all its contamination at Bayonne and Linden and still cough up $225 million to the state. "They're going to clean everything up, no matter what it costs, and we get $225 million on top of it," the governor said. Good news, but could the state have squeezed a little bit more than pennies on the dollar? We'd ask Christie, but,you know, he was not involved.
BRANCHBURG - It took five long years, but it looks like the state is finally serious about the bed bug infestation at a rooming house in Branchburg. The Courier News says tenants have been complaining about the bugs for five years, prompting the state to fine the owner $1,000 and block him from accepting new tenants to his home with 12 bedrooms, no kitchen, and plenty of bugs. The real crime is that such a place serves people with low incomes, mental illness and disabilities who have no place else to go. A $1,000 fine - after five years of complaints - is a joke.
EDISON - After a custodian burned down an elementary school by discarding his cigarette in a trash can, it will now cost township taxpayers an average of two packs of cigarettes a year to rebuild it. Edison voters approved an $18.6 million bond issue for the money to reconstruct James Monroe Elementary School, costing taxpayers about $21 a year. Town officials are vowing to fight the insurance company for more money to cover the full expense of construction. Meanwhile, the custodian is retired from the schools and has since hopefully broken the habit.
EAST RUTHERFORD - We rarely get excited about the Jets, but can't contain our excitement this morning. Woody Johnson decided to invest again in his hobby, stealing All Pro corner Darrelle Revis back from the Patriots in a $70 million deal. It gives Jets fans some hope - once again - that the Johnson empire is willing to create something more aggressive than the dragonflies in the Meadowlands.
IN THE MEDIA
NEW YORK - Eight seconds after going live during last night's 6 p.m. telecast, NJTV News with Mary Alice Williams became its own news, with sparks flying above the news desk and smoke spreading around the studio in Lincoln Center. The news team and crew quickly left and set up a temporary set, not missing a beat. Hopefully, there will be much less drama when the new home of NJTV is completed at 2 Gateway in Newark.
IN OTHER IMPORTANT NEWS
GREENACRES, Fla. - A 32-year-old woman had plenty of apologies for police, but refused to put on a shred of clothing as she sat naked outside a Dunkin Donuts - her munchkins in full view. The Palm Beach Post reports the woman, arrested Sunday, was pledging a dance troupe, requiring her to be buck naked as people passed by for their morning Dunkaccino®. Many offered to give her some clothes, but she had to refuse. She was very sorry, she told police, but a dare is a dare.
THIS DAY IN HISTORY
It was one year ago that Men's Wearhouse announced a merger with JoS. A. Bank Clothiers, apparently making it now six suits for the price of one.
WORD OF THE DAY
Blunderbuss - noun
An insensitive, blundering person.
Example:
Myrna: "Oh, Hal, you are such a blunderbuss!"
Hal: "Be quiet, Myrna, and let me be an insensitive, blundering person."